A credit score is a 3-digit number generated by credit information agencies such as CIBIL, CRIF ,Experian,Equifax etc ,based on which banks and NBFCs (Non Banking Financial Corporations, such as loan and insurance companies, co-operative banks, stock broking firms, etc.) evaluate a person’s creditworthiness ie their capacity and willingness to repay loans extended to them on time. Based on this assessment companies accept or reject loan applications.

Before a bank/other financial institute extends a loan to a potential borrower, it needs to take a decision on whether the person would be able to repay the interest and principal or default and how much risk is involved in lending money to this person. Banks and other financial institutions rely on many factors to take this decision on credit-worthiness – including the person’s income and household income , the person’s other loans and EMIs, the person’s previous repayment history and defaults if any, etc.

In the past, the banks had to collect all this information from a potential borrower before analyzing it. But now, they make use of credit reports and credit scores. A few years ago, the only credit reports and credit scores available were from CIBIL. At the time, I wrote about interpreting the CIBIL CIR and improving the Credit Score and How a Good Credit Score improves one’s chances of securing a loan on better terms. Link. Link.Link. Read more of this post

Real estate companies have been offering schemes called 20:80 and 25:75 where the builder agrees to pay interest on the borrower’s loan for a specific period. The buyer pays 20% upfront and the bank disburses the entire loan to the builder through the individual. The builder finances the construction of the project with the money, and agrees to pay interest on behalf of the borrower to the bank.

Banks such as ICICI Bank ,HDFC Bank and Axis Bank have been lending under these schemes in the hope of increasing the pace of home loan disbursement. Read more of this post